K12 Email Marketing Gamification – Make Your Emails Fun
Your K12 audience is busy enough as it is. They’ve seen just about every type of email already, and that means you have to work harder than ever to get noticed. Marketing messages come in all shapes and sizes, and the same email subject lines no longer cut it. K12 email marketing gamification isn’t just a way to boost your open rate, but it also makes your marketing more fun.
Everyone is drawn towards fun things, including teachers and administrators. These are professionals with a lot on their plate already. They don’t have the time to read through boring emails that don’t capture their attention. This is why K12 email marketing gamification can be so successful. With the email marketing market projected to increase to $17.9 billion by 2027, now is the time to take your strategy to the next level. In this guide, we’ll share everything you need to know about K12 email marketing gamification.
What Is Email Marketing Gamification?
To begin, what exactly is K12 email marketing gamification? This is when you add game elements into non-game applications, like email campaigns. Gamification can be used on websites, landing pages, and social media. One area it’s underutilized is email marketing, and this is why it’s so effective.
When you embed game elements in your email, you could yield major results. It’s all about boosting user engagement. Few things are as eye-catching and click-worthy as games. By engaging your users and offering a reward for completion, you hone into your users’ love for competition. Examples of email marketing gamification include:
- Spin the wheel to win a prize
- Scratch off buttons
- Host a contest
- Pop quiz
- Scavenger hunt
The type of gamification you use in your email marketing campaign depends on your goal. Overall, however, you want to use visual, game-inspired elements to encourage more clicks. This builds a stronger relationship with customers compared to a typical marketing email, and it feels like there’s something special in it for them.
Why Use Gamification in K12 Marketing Emails
Next, why is gamification so beneficial in K12 marketing emails? As we mentioned above, K12 professionals are busy. They have a lot to worry about already, and their inboxes can be overwhelming places. You have to make it worth their while to not only click on your email but also click-through to your promotion or offer. With an average click through rate under 12%, you have to find ways to make your emails more compelling.
How does gamification benefit your brand?
- Loyalty: When customers feel rewarded for engaging with emails, they’re more likely to feel a special connection. This could lead to them joining your rewards program, making a purchase, or referring you to others.
- Open rates: When you share a game in your email subject line, you boost the likelihood of someone clicking on your email. In turn, this creates stronger engagement long-term.
- Trust: Customers want to trust the brands they interact with. When you’re in the habit of interacting with customers in a positive, engaging way, you show your subscribers how much you value them.
Unlike other types of emails, gamification’s primary agenda is to entertain. While selling is always important, it’s also essential to build a strong foundation with your potential customers.
Best Practices for Email Gamification
Now that you know the different types of email gamification for your K12 marketing emails, what are the best practices to keep in mind? This is a creative way to re-engage your existing subscribers, but you have to be mindful of your strategy. Before you begin, read through these tips.
Make the concept simple.
It’s easy to overcomplicate your gamification emails, but recognize the limits of email providers. Too many graphics or moving images could result in your email getting caught by a spam filter. Similarly, you could overwhelm recipients trying to figure out what to do. Instead, keep it simple and straightforward.
Know your audience.
This is also a great opportunity to segment your email list. When you focus on customers who are already engaged or who are most likely to respond to a reward, you’ll find greater success. Consider the profession, demographics, and buying habits of your specific email segment.
Optimize for mobile.
More people (including K12 professionals) are using mobile devices to access emails than ever before. Make sure your email loads just as well on mobile as it does on desktop. If it displays oddly, it’ll go straight to the trash. Similarly, don’t forget to run through your pre-send checklist.
Final Thoughts on Gamification
Ultimately, K12 email marketing gamification is a powerful way to add variety to your email marketing routine. While you should always look for ways to personalize and segment your email marketing, gamification offers a special bonus for your most valued users.
If you have a strong email list, now is the time to get them to take notice. Your K12 email subscribers have enough boring emails to sift through. Why not make it more exciting for them by playing along with a little game?
